BRICS leaders meet in India as wars and U.S. tensions test the bloc
Leaders of the BRICS nations are gathering in New Delhi to discuss trade, investment, and global geopolitical challenges. The summit aims to strengthen the bloc's influence while navigating internal tensions and global conflicts.
Why it matters
BRICS represents a significant portion of the global population and economy, and its efforts to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar have major implications for global finance.
Leaders of the BRICS nations were meeting in New Delhi on Saturday (September 12, 2026) for a summit focused on trade, investment and global conflicts, as the bloc seeks a bigger role in shaping the global agenda for emerging and developing countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and counterparts from the other eight BRICS members. The summit comes as wars in Ukraine and the West Asia, along with rising U.S.-China tensions, test the bloc’s ability to find common ground among countries with competing geopolitical interests.
Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed around the summit venue and other parts of New Delhi, with traffic restrictions and diversions in place.
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